“Let the Generals Decide”

The current mantra of the Bush administration is, “Politicians should not be allowed to micro-manage the war. The Generals should decide.” What a revealing declaration.

Since the very start of the conflict, no, even before, the neo-con idealogues in the administration have directed this war. Not a single person of this group has served a day in combat. By the administration’s reasoning, politicians, several of whom have had distinguished military careers, should have no say, but bureaucrats who have been elected to no office can make policy and control the conduct of the war.

Bush says, “Let the Generals decide.” Yet when General Shinsecki, the highly competent Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, mildly suggested we would need a minimum of 300,000 troops to invade Iraq, he was summarily fired. When General Zinni, a Marine commander, complained about Bremer’s interference in the attack on Fallujah, he was history. The generals who disagree with the bureaucrats get fired. The generals who become the lapdogs of the administration become the leaders of the war. It defies imagination how General Peter Pace was allowed to serve his full term as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. The one General who was patently unfit to conduct the war was left in control for two full years.

The new hero is General David Petreaus. He no doubt is a good officer and a fine leader but he is no better than the rest of the politically damaged officers who have forgotten that the oath they took upon entering the military service was to the Constitution of the United States, and not any political leader. While General Petraeus is leading his men in a circular firing squad, Al-Quaida becomes stronger and bolder and even the Green Zone is no longer safe. He sends cheerful reports of progress while at the same time the parliament of Iraq leaves for a two month vacation and the Prime Minister announces that the coalition forces can leave at any time.

General Petraeus faces an impossible situation. He is paying a dear price for the fact that we never had enough boots on the ground, and the “surge” will have a very limited effect. As the fatigue sets in on our forces in Iraq, General Petraeus may be the one left holding the bag for the breakdown of the U.S. Army. In the present situation, we should not expect the much-awaited September report of the General to contain any suggestions except for more of the same. And the name of this otherwise fine officer will live in infamy, while the politicians live in fantasy.